Llama Ladies

    Half way through the week before, my boss comes up to me and asks if I would be willing to be sole counselor for three girls on an out of camp adventure hiking with llamas in the wilderness...
...
...
...if your boss asks, you should probably say yes, so I did.

   I met the girls on Sunday and by Monday after lunch we were driving into central Oregon with backpacking gear and dehydrated foods. Although we might have driven an hour and a half too far south we backtracked and the girls were totally cool with it since they were able to watch a film in the van. Monday night we camped at a tiny campground that is totally secluded and we happened to be the only ones there. We pitched our tents and figured out how to work our water purifier and cook over a small butane stove. As we went to bed and I heard the critters rustling around outside the tent I kept reminding myself that I was bigger than them and that nothing bad was going to happen, I can handle this...that second part continued to be my manta for the remainder of the trip.

Camping gear overload!

    Tuesday morning we packed back up and went to meet up with our llamas and the llama ladies who would be our guides for three days. Two ladies who are experts in the Willamette National Forest/Jefferson Wilderness area and also with llamas and backpacking met us bright and early with smiles on their faces and adventure in their eyes. My girls and I instantly meandered towards the llamas and were bonding with them. We packed our gear in the packs and helped place them in the side harnesses. (Fact: llamas can only carry about 10 pounds on their backs so you cannot ride them and the packs are therefore weighted on the sides of them.) We lined up with our llamas and began the 3.5 mile trek to our base camp near Duffy Lake. I chose to lead Dynasty who had little legs like me and was one of the older llamas on the trip. He was once jet black but now is more salt and peppery and he loved being the lead of the group. Once at camp we set everything up and then went to stick our feet in the lake which was crystal clear and totally refreshing after walking in dusty dirt all day since there has been no rain in the area for weeks. Tuesday came to a close and my girls and I settled in for a cold night.

Dynasty is the guy laying down.

Duffy Lake

Duffy Butte/Duffy Lake

    Wednesday we managed to make biscuits and gravy for breakfast and then filled our water bottles and set off on a hike to the top of Red Butte. It was another 3.5 mile round trip hike and we left the llamas back at base camp to relax for the day. The hike took us through old growth forests and then into the burn area. The fire happened in 2003 and the devastation is undeniably evident however the regrowth has begun and little plants and vegetation is abundant. From the top of the Butte we could see Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Washington, Three-Fingered Jack, and the Three Sisters.....all MOUNTAINS! It was breathtaking!!!! We were in the land of eight lakes and we could see Mowich Lake, Duffy Lake, and Alice Lake from Red Butte as well. The hike was a little tricky because at one point we were straight inclining on gravel and each step forward seemed to set us back some but it was totally worth it for the view! Wednesday afternoon/evening we feasted on two meals worth of food and then played some cards before calling it a night and mentally preparing for packing up the next day.

At Mowich Lake looking at Red Butte.

Looking up at Red Butte

Duffy Butte and the burn area

Mt. Jefferson!

Mt. Jefferson. The red spot is a helicopter checking for fires.

Three Fingered Jack on the left, Three Sisters in the middle, Mt. Washington towards the right.

Three Sisters

Three Fingered Jack and Three Sisters

    Thursday morning we had a quick breakfast and then helped the llama ladies pack the llamas back up to carry our things back to the van. We swapped more stories and tested our knowledge of llamas then hiked the trail back towards civilization. In preparation for our trip I had each girl put a clean outfit in the van that we could change into for our 4 hour drive back to camp so we didn't smell like llamas and dust. We ate lunch and changed then sped towards camp so we could shower before the Under the Sea theme dinner meal!

Dynasty and I in shadow

Under the Sea!

Reflections:
1. backpacking is a huge commitment and probably not necessarily my thing
2. llamas are super intelligent and totally awesome creatures!
3. sleeping mats are a MUST when tent camping
4. dehydrated foods are not terrible, and some are even delicious
5. the view from the top is always worth the climb
6. "nothing bad is going to happen, I can handle this"
7. it was a great experience and I am so glad I did it!